Act XV

A/N: I haven't reread through this or the previous chapter, so I'm apologizing now for all of the spelling and/or grammatical errors. I tried to catch them as I went along, but I am not perfect and it's 5am. As stated in last chapter's end note, this flashback is more upbeat. I would like to take a vote for the next chapter's subject. If you want a chapter solely focused on Alois and Claude, leave a review with your vote. If you want a chapter solely on Ciel and Sebastian (which will contain more angst, mind you. Though maybe I'll be nice and they can reconcile at the end. But probably not, because I am an asshole), then leave a review with your vote. In order for me to update sooner, it is of utmost importance that you, my dear readers, cast your votes, so that I can tally up the score and jump on writing. Please note that, there will be future chapters of only Alois and Claude, which will have angst, and finally smut. There will also be a fuck ton of SebaCiel-centered chapters because this fanfic is mainly about them. I only want to give you all something to look forward to, what you want to see most. I am doing this out of love for your endless support, because I am a shitty writer and take too long to update. I adore each and every one of you, but another thanks must go out to SebasuchansKitten. Darling, you are an inspiration and you motivate me. You are an amazing writer, and goodness you are sweeter than sugar. Thank you so much for all of your wondrous feedback, and for kicking my ass into gear when I'm slacking off. You're amazing, lovely, and don't forget it~. (Yes, I am calling you out again, and YES, before you say anything otherwise, I do have to. I appreciate and adore you that much.) ENOUGH TALK. MORE STORY.

Warnings: Very slight angst, homelessness.

Small clouds of warm air hitting cold quickly dissipated with every drawn breath, only to once again be brought forth with every exhale. Sebastian was freezing; winter was not kind, chilling him to his core as he huddled upon the uneven concrete beneath a sad construction of boxes that he had been calling home for the past two weeks. It may not have been the best season to have left the Orphanage, and he had been barely surviving on small bowls of broth from a run-down soup kitchen, but he had never felt better. The freedom that he felt overpowered his starvation, though he knew it wouldn't remain that way for long. Soon the cold would leave him with hypothermia and frostbite, and the ever present loneliness would consume him.

The kitten was a gift; she had found him one night and curled up beside him, her tiny meow rousing him from his restless sleep. She was a tiny thing, frail, only fur and bones, and yet he adored her. She was his, and he hers, and he named her Soot, because of her black fur. She was his only comfort, and he did everything he could to keep her warm and fed.

Sebastian began searching for a place to stay, a job that would bring him the money he needed to put a roof over their heads, and to keep her well fed and healthy. By chance, he stumbled upon a small theatre, with large posters and bold text, announcing Audition now. Taking it as a sign, he entered the warm theater and found a few people lounging, waiting to audition. An orange-haired teen, probably around his age, sat curled up with a worn copy of Hamlet, his violet eyes lazily scanning the famous play. Sebastian sat alone, away from the others, with Soot curled up inside his jacket. He could hear her softly purring in her sleep, and it brought a smile to his chapped lips. Slowly, people filtered in and out of where the auditions where being held, and he bean to doze on and off, the constant comforting warm of the kitten lulling him.

"Excuse me," a voice jolted him out of his light slumber, and he looked up with tired carmine eyes into the violet ones of the orange-haired boy. "Are ye here to audition?"

As awakeness took a firmer hold on him, Sebastian sat up and nodded.

"Then ye'd be next. They're waiting for ye," the boy said with a bright smile.

Sebastian glanced over the other youth; he looked to be homeless as well, though how someone in his position could seems so joyful was beyond him. "Would you..." his voice cracked, and he swallowed his spit in an effort to lubricate it. "Would you hold my cat for me?"

The orange-haired boy looked taken aback. "Cat?" He blinked slowly before a laugh barked out of him.

Unzipping his coat, he presented Soot, who opened her eyes a slit and gave a disgruntled huff, before falling back asleep, her back legs dangling in the air. This brought another laugh from the stranger, and he slapped his knee before gingerly taking the tiny kitten.

"Sure, I'll watch yer cat," he sniggered, shaking his head.

Sebastian thanked him before rising from his seat and heading toward the room where auditions were being held. He wasn't nervous; after all, he had nothing to lose.

"Well, did ye get a part?" the carrot-headed boy asked, his fingers lightly stroking Soot's stomach as Sebastian emerged from the room.

He offered only a nod, hands reaching for the purring kitten, nuzzling his face against her fur and murmuring sweet nothings to her.

This brought another laugh from the joyful youth, much to Sebastian's displeasure. "Name's Joker. Ye'll probably be rooming with me, seeing's how you look so young. Are ye homeless?"

"Yes," Sebastian replied matter-of-factly, still cradling the dainty black kitten in his hands.

"Well, not anymore yer not. This theatre takes real good care of it's cast and crew. Treats us like family. Sure, we hafta work for our share, and we don' get paid much, but we've got a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I won't even mind your little kitty there, since we're roomies and ye seem to come as a package deal." He paused to draw a breath, his head tilting slightly to the side. "What's yer names?"

"I'm Sebastian, and this little lady is Soot."

Joker bowed his head slightly, smile still ever present on his lips. "Well, little lady and gentlemen, let me show ye to yer new home."

Sebastian quite liked living in the theatre. As Joker had said, everyone was kind and treated him like family. He worked hard, cleaning, painting sets, mending costumes, and anything else he was asked to do, so that he could provide food for himself and Soot. Not that she really needed it, since everyone doted on the little creature. She was gaining weight every day, becoming more healthy. Sebastian hoped that her growth wasn't too stunted, and that as she would get bigger with the coming months. He had also been gaining much needed weight; his skin was no longer sallow, though he hd always been pale, and he was looking much healthier.

Though he had never learned how to act, his performances always amazed; the way he portrayed the characters, filled with such raw emotion, was quite popular, and he began bringing in more and more patrons, solely based on his talents. He never thought he would love doing something as much as he loved acting. It was blissful to slip into the mindset of someone else, pretending to be another person and forgetting himself and his past. Having only lived in the theatre for a year, he excelled at what he did, and all his fellow actors were amazed at the rate he improved.

Still, Sebastian kept his distance from everyone, never getting too close. He didn't know how to make friends, or to feel anything other than numbness and hate. He never truly smiled, only gave that devilish smirk of his, because it was all he knew. Joker was the only person who didn't seem to get the hint, or he didn't care, Sebastian couldn't tell. The young male continued to try and break him out of his shell and befriend him. At the very least, the raven-haired 15 year old could see why his name was Joker, though he was hardly ever amused by the redhead's antics. In his eyes, Soot was his only friend, and he liked it that way. He didn't realise that he had begun to let the other male in, and that he actually enjoyed his company.

Within the next two years, Sebastian consecutively received the leading roles, gaining a massive fanbase. The theatre was making so much money because of it that they were able to invest in better costumes and sets, as well as more crew and cast members. They would have plentiful feasts every night, toasting the rising star in their midst. It was the role of Hamlet that he portrayed with reckless abandon that finally drew the interest of an agent. On the third night of the production, he was approached by a petite woman in a luxurious suit, with a boquet of red roses and a contract in hand.

Unsure of what to do, Sebastian asked her to come back again and give him time to decide. He spent the whole night staring at the contract, absentmindedly petting Soot.

"I think that ye should do it," Joker's voice broke into his reverie. Sebastian looked up, his eyes showing how scared he was. "This is a once in a lifetime chance. Not everyone in this career is gonna make it, and it's rare to be approached in a small-time theatre by an agent."

Sebastian sighed heavily, glancing back at the contract. "I just don't want to disappoint everyone."

"But they won't be. They'll be happy for ye. We all want ye to succeed. Yer mighty talented, Sebastian. This may not've been yer dream before you stumbled upon this place, but it's yer dream now. And ye should follow yer dreams."

Sebastian mulled this over, wanting to deny it, but he could feel in his gut the truth in Joker's words. "Goodnight, Joker,"was all he said as he flicked out the lamp, his eyes falling to the spot where the contract sat.

The next day, Sebastian called for everyone's attention during breakfast. Standing, he cleared his throat as the people he had come to cherish as family quieted down. "As you all know, yesterday I got an offer from an agent. She believes that I have what it takes to become a famous actor..." He paused, wetting his lips in hesitation. "I've spent all night, debating in my head whether I could bear to part from this theatre and you, my family, to follow my dreams. I decided that... That I'm going to follow my dreams, no matter how hard the road may be. But I'm not abandoning you all; you are my family, and this is my home. Half of the money I make on my journey to fulfilling my dream is going to be given to this theatre. I want you all to always live comfortably, and without fear of losing your home or family. I don't want anyone to ever experience being homeless ever again, because I know we've all been there, and I know how terrifying it is.

"So long as I can make a name for myself, this theatre will always be spoken of fondly as the place I got my start, and I will always support it." Sebastian had to stop and swallow the lump that was forming in his throat. "Never give up; your dream is always within your reach; you just have to stretch out and grasp it." The dining room filled with applause and cheers, which were replaced by tears and declarations of familial love. The agent returned that afternoon, and Sebastian signed the contract. He gathered his belongings and Soot, dreading saying goodbye to Joker. In his time at the theatre, he had grown fond of the orange-haired male.

They stood outside, in front of the entrance, neither moving or saying anything. Finally, Joker broke the silence, his big grin filling his face.

"Goodbye."

"This isn't goodbye," Sebastian replied, his lips twitching to life, a true smile gracing them. "Reach out and catch your dream, Joker. I'll see you again, when we're both famous. And," he paused, his smile turning into his normal smirk, "I will be seeing you for Christmas, every year."

This brought a laugh from his friend, who shook his head. "Make sure ye bring Soot," was all he parted ways, Sebastian climbing into the agent's car, and Joker returning to the small theatre.

There had been truth in his words; this wasn't goodbye. No matter how far away he went, or how well his acting career took off, this would always be his home; this was where his family was, and come hell or high water, he would see them all again.

E/N: And there we have it, sweet kittens and little doves, the end of the flashback arc. I'm hoping I didn't give you too many feels. There's Sebastian's past, laid out on the table for all your eyes to see. He may not seem too fucked up in the present, but let me assure you, he is. As you've seen, he's fucking amazing at hiding that shit deep down. It takes YEARS for him to snap. Now, don't forget to vote, loves. (Ciel and Sebastian or Claude and Alois as the sole focus in the next chapter.) Cast those puppies now~ I will announce the winner in the description of this work before I update, so as to prepare your sweet little selves.

As always, Kisses, Ritsy